Sectional lamp-shade



July 26, 1932. TATE 1,868,776

SECTIONAL LAMP SHADE Filed April 18. 1931 Patented July 26, 1932' ETED STATES GEORGE A. TATE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES IPAiUL- PATENT OFFICE SEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS sEorroNAL LAMP-SHADE Application filed April 18,

This invention relates to an improved type of lamp shade and more particularly to a lamp shade constructed of a plurality of sections or panels certain of which are adapted to be pivotally adjusted into different selected positions for permitting rays of light from the lamp enclosed bythe shade to be more clearly directed or reflected simultaneously in different directions from various portions of the shade to facilitate reading or for other purposes.

It is an object of this invention to provide a sectional lamp shade wherein certain of x the panels forming the outer portion of the shade are pivotally mounted on the shade frame to permit one or more of the pivoted panels to be adjusted into diiferent inclined positions to permit rays of light from the a interior of the shade to be transmitted outwardly through one ormore side openings of the lamp shade whereby the benefits of the light from a single shade may be enjoyed by a plurality of persons positioned in different places around the lampshade.

' It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved lamp shade having asupporting frame having shade forming panels or'sections frictionally supported on the upper portion of the lamp shade frame to permit the panels or sections to be pivotally adjusted and held in predetermined open position to permit rays of light from the interior. of the shade to be directed outwardly A a through the open side of theshade as well as through the bottom and top thereof. i

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved lamp shade wherein the frame has supported thereon a plurality of stationary and pivotally adjustable panels or sections normally positioned to form the outer covering or body of the shade, said pivoted sections being provided with frictional supporting, means permitting the'adj ustable sections to be pivotally adjusted into l difierent selected positions to permit rays of light from the interior of thezshade to be transmitted outwardly through the open portions of the shade without necessitating any change in the relative position of the shade.

1931. Serial No. 531,030.

It is an important objectof this inven-' tion'to provide an improved type of light shade which may be of any desired configuration or design and being soconstructed that one or more of the panels forming the body portion or covering of the shade are friotion-' ally adjustable with respect to the lamp shade frame to permit one or more of the adjustable panels tov be swung from their normal position into any one of a plurality of adjusted open positions to increase the usefulness of the lamp shade and increase or decrease the. range oflight adapted to be cast from the interior of the shade without necessitating the adjustment of the lamp shade with respect to its support, but permitting the lamp shade to be rotated on its support to facilitate proper positioning of the pivoted panels of the lamp shade to facilitate the direction of light rays therefrom.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawing.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawing:

Figure l is a frontelevation of an improved lamp shade embodying the principles of this invention and illustrated in associated relation with a lamp standard. I

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the improved lamp shade.

r igure 3' s a sectional detail'viewof the. lamp shade taken on line IIIIII of F ig- Lire-2. v Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail section.

of avlamp shade supporting socket illustrating a fragmentary portion of the lamp shade frame. ring rotatably supported on the socket 'to permit rotationaladjustment of the lamp shade on its support.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a complete desk lamp including a modified form of improved lamp shade having the front, and rearpancls of theshade frictionally ad -v justable on the shade frame and illustrating the operation of the adjustable panels in dotted lines. i

tightly clamp the shade supporting ring 8 As shown on the drawing:

The reference numeral 1 indicates a lamp stand or pedestal having a stem 2 supported thereon carrrying a plurality of lamp sockets 3 having electric light bulbs 4 engaged therein.

Removably and adj ustably supported upon the upper end of the stem 2 is an improved lamp shade embodying the principles of this invention. The improved lamp shade comprises a wire frame consisting of integrally connected upper frame members 5, integrally connected lower frame members 6 and connecting rods or members 7 which are rigidly secured or connected between said upper frame members 5 and the lower frame members 6. The upper frame members 5 provide a continuous top section for the frame and has rigidly secured thereto a shade mounting ring 8 or any other suitable shade supporting fixture to permit the improved shade to be removably mounted in position on a lamp, on a socket or on any type of hanging fixture or the like.

The supporting device or ring 8 for the lamp shade may be internally threaded to permit the lamp shade to be conveniently mounted upon a threaded support provided on the upper end of the lamp stem 2 or upon threaded portion of a socket forming a part of a bridge-lamp or the like to permit the lamp shade to be removably supported in position. If desired, the mounting ring 8 may be provided with a smooth interior surface without threads to permit the sai ie to be rotatably engaged on the threaded portion 9 of a lamp socket 10 to the outside of a peripheral stop bead 11 formed on the exterior of the socket. For the purpose of holding the lamp shade supporting ring 8 in position, an internally threaded retain ing ring or collar 12 is adjustably and re movably engaged on the threaded portion 9 of the socket to the outside of the ring 3. The retaining ring 12 may be adjusted to in position on the socket or said ring may be adjusted to permit rotational movement of the shade supporting ring 8 with respect to the socket so that different portions of the improved shade may be observed or positioned as desired.

The exterior or body portion of the improved lamp shade in the present showing is illustrated as being of hexagonal shape, but of course it will be understood that the lamp shade may be of any other shape or design as desired. In the present showing the body portion of the lamp shade comprises a plurality of sections or panels 13 and 1 1 which are alternately arranged around the lamp shade frame as clearly illustrated in Figure 2. The sect-ions or panels 13 are permanently secured in spaced relation to the wire lamp shade frame by means of retaining clips 15 and screw members or bolts 16 and by means of fasteners or wire threads or loops 17 as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. The upper portions of the stationary lamp shade panels 13 are secured to the upper wire frame members 5 by the clips 15 and the bolts 16 while the lower portions of the stationary panels 13 are secured to the lower frame members 6 by means of the wires or fasteners 17. The stationary panels 13 are spaced intermittently around the frame leaving openings or spaces therebetween. In the form of the lamp shade panels 13 illustrated in the drawing, the panels 13 are of tapered form being wider at the lower portion than at the upper portion. The shape of the panels 13, however, of course depends upon the design of the lamp shade.

The improved features of the lamp shade covered by this invention reside in the provision of the lamp shade sections or panels 14 which are also in the present showing of tapered form being wider at the lower part than at the upper part. The adjustable panels 14 are alternately spaced around the lamp shade frame between the stationary panels 13 and in the present showing overlap the side edges of the stationary panels. The adjustable panels 14 are pivotally and frictionally supported at their upper ends upon the upper frame members 5 by means of a U-shaped strap or clip 18 having the bight or curved portion thereof seated over one of the rods r frame wires 5 as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. The arms of the clip 18 are provided with openings to receive the threaded shank 19 of a knurled head or knob 20 which is positioned on the exterior of the upper portion of the adjustable panel 14 and is separated from the outer surface of the panel by means of a washer 21. The threaded shank portion of the panel operating device projects through an opening in the panel and through the openings in the supporting clip 18 and has a nut threaded on the inner end thereof. The head or knob 20 may be rotated to thread the shank 19 through the nut 22 to cause the panel support-ing clip 18 to be frictionally clamped in position. on the respective frame member 5 thereby affording an arrangement permitting the adjustable panel 14: to be pivotally swung from its normal closedposit-i on as illustrated in Figure 3 pivotally about the supporting frame wire 5 into any one of a selected number of open positions as illustrated by the selected open position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. It will thus be noted that the adjustable panels 1 1 are alternately disposed around the lamp shade frame between the stationary panels 13 and when the adjustable panels 1 1 are in closed position they are positioned in overlapping relation with respect to the stationary panels 13 as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing.

When the improved lamp shade is mounted on a lamp pedestal or upon a fixture socket or the like and it is desired to increase the area of light transmission from the lamp shade to permit light to be transmitted from one of the side openings of the lamp shade,

it is only necessary to engage the handle or knob 20 of one of the adjustable panels and pivotally swing the panel from the full line position illustrated in Figure 3 toward the dotted line position of said figure,thereby opening the side of the lamp shade and permitting rays of light from the bulbs 4 to be transmitted through the opening afforded by the open panel 14:- With this arrangement it will be noted that rays of light may be directed onto a book or paper for reading purposes or upon any other work outside of the ordinary range of the transmission of light from the lower portion of the lamp shade.

By positioning the adjustable lamp shade panels 14 alternately around the lamp shade two or more persons sitting around the lamp may receive light therefrom for reading purposes or the like by merely opening the adjustable panel nearest to their position without necessitating any adjustment of the lamp shade proper with respect to its mounting. In case the lamp shade is not positioned on its mounting so that the adjustable panels are in desired locations, the entire lamp shade may of course be rotated or adjusted on its support so that the adjustable panels may be positioned as desired.

Figure 5 illustrates a modified form or design of an improved lamp shade used in connection with a desk lamp pedestal or stand 23. In the modified form of lamp shade the shade is made on a wire frame and comprises a stationary top panel and stationary end panels 24 and 25 respectively. The modified form of lamp shade also includes adjustable side sections or panels 26 which are hingedly and frictienally supported along their upper portions on the longitudinal upper frame mem here by means of adjustable screw knobs 27 and frictional supporting clips similar to those illustrated and described in connection with Figure 3 of the drawing. In the'form of the improved lamp shade illustrated in Figure 5, it will be noted that the panels 26 may be adjusted into difierentdesired inclined positions so that the range of light transmission from the shade may be increased or decreased as desired. While only the side panels 26 of the lamp shade illustrated in Figure 5 are described and illustrated as being adjustable, it will of course be imderstood that the end panels 25 may also be adjustably mounted similar to the side panels 26 if so desired.

l/Vith the improved lamp shade of this invention provided with one or more adjustable sections or panels it is possible to vary the area of light distribution from the lamp shade by the adjustment of the adjustable panels of the lamp shade. The improved lamp shade thus permits the area of light transmission from the shade to be varied as desired and furthermore affords a lamp shade permitting the light rays from the lamp to be directed or focused on objects outside of the ordinary area of light transmission of the lamp shade.

It will also be noted that in case any of the stationary or adjustable panels forming part of the lamp shade should become damaged, that said damaged panels may be conveniently replaced by new panels without disturbing the remaining panels forming part of the lamp shade.

In case any of the adjustable panels becomes loose and will not remain in the des red open position in which they are desired to he set, the screws 19 may be adjusted with respect to the retaining nuts 22 to cause the friction clips or supports 18 to be tightened with respect to the supporting wires 5 of the frame sothat the friction between the clips 18 and the wire members 5 may be adjusted at will so that the panels will remain in their set positions of adjustment.

The panels forming the lamp shade may be of any desired numberor design and may be decorated as preferred.

It will, of course, be understood that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and it is therefore not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than is necessitated by the priorart.

I claim as my invention:

A lamp shade comprising a frame, a body section supported on said frame and havin an opening therein, an inverted U-shaped clip on said frame, a panel supported by said clip swingable on said frame to close the opening, a threaded bolt entered in said clip and said panel, and a knob for said bolt providing manual means for the swinging of said panel to a desired position andco-.

County, Illinois.

GEORGE A. TATE. 

